How To Dress Your Age - 20's

June 01, 2015

From our great friends at GQ magazine and Nick Carvell.. We bring you the 'How To Dress Your Age' series.. A brief guide from 20 to 60 and beyond of how to dress your age, look great and feel even better..

HOW TO DRESS YOUR AGE - 20's

We're not going to lie - your 20s are tricky. While you will probably be in the best shape of your life and trim enough that you can wear pretty much anything you want, you will also go through a massive transformation as you leave uni behind and start establishing your career. In short, you're a grown man now, and the key to mastering how to dress in your 20s can be summed up in two words: capsule wardrobe.

This is the time to invest in important go-to pieces that will form the foundation of your wardrobe for many years to come, and make you feel great every time you slip them on: hard-wearing chinos, good jeans, smart shoes, your first proper suit and a decent watch.

However, this is also the time to experiment with trends - yes, you'll make mistakes with colours and patterns, but, heck, you're young - now's the time to do it and work out what looks good on you.

Towards the end of the decade, go for your first designer pieces - although we'd recommend you start small with ties, cufflinks or wallets, and work your way up as your budget expands with your wage.

In short, this is the first decade of the rest of your life - so make sure you start it in style.

How to dress in your 20s: 5 golden rules...

1) Go for slim cutsYou are in the best shape of your life right now, and you don't need to spend hours in the gym to maintain it. Make the most of it by searching out clothes with slim cuts (note: not skinny cuts) that don't swamp you in acres of excess fabric.

2) Get to know your colourNow's the time to figure out which colours work best on you. As a general rule, lighter colors work best on dark skin (pale blue, yellow, pastel pink, white) and darker colours work best on light skin (navy blue, dark green, dark red, brown). When you've decided on which you feel most comfortable in, adopt it as the backbone of your accessories game. If you invest in socks, pocket squares and ties that are both solid and have hints of the colour in a pattern, you have created a thoroughly interchangeable selection.

3) ExperimentThere are more shops out there (especially of the more wallet-friendly variety) catering to guys in their twenties than any other decade. Make the most of it by trying out different patterns and more trend-led items that can be added into your core wardrobe as the seasons change. Smart jogging bottoms, a bold blazer or a summer-appropriate sandals are all good trend-items to try right now, should budgets allow.

4) Make friends with a tailor and a barberNever, ever underestimate the power of a good haircut and an expertly fitted suit. Get to know these men and/or women now and they will keep you looking good for years to come. Hey!

5) Learn to look after your shoesThis is a decade where making the right first impression counts, whether that be going on a job interview or getting out there on the dating scene. It's often said that shoes are the first thing a person notices about your outfit, either consciously or subconsciously, are your shoes - so they'd better be shiny.